Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoninghas long been marketed as the final installment in Tom Cruise’s beloved action franchise, but for the most part, I’d been holding out hope that Ethan Hunt would return in some form in the future. The series has simply been too commercially successful to end fully, with the possibility of sequels and spin-offs seeming higher than ever. However, following theearly reactions toThe Final Reckoning, I’m no longer convinced that the franchise needs to keep going.
The Final Reckoningwas originally conceived as the second part to 2023’sDead Reckoning, which followed Ethan Hunt and his friends as they searched for two parts to an important key that holds the secret to defeating a sentient artificial intelligence known as The Entity.The ending ofDead Reckoningsaw Hunt finally get his hands on the completed key, with Pom Klementieff’s redeemed assassin giving him the final information he needed to understand its true purpose.This is exactly whereThe Final Reckoningpicks up, and judging by the early reactions from critics, it’s going to be Hunt’s most intense adventure yet.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoning’s Reactions Suggest A Fitting Ending
Ethan Hunt May Finally Get The End He Deserves
Though plot details are being kept firmly under wraps, the early reactions toThe Final Reckoningseem unanimous about one thing - the movieoffers a very clear and definitive ending to this franchise. Not only will it conclude Ethan’s fight against Gabriel and the Entity, but it’s also confirmed that several aspects from previous sequels will come back and prove important once again.The Final Reckoning’s trailer revealed thatthe Rabbit’s Foot fromMission: Impossible IIIwill be making a return, and there’s bound to be other key connections that haven’t been revealed yet.
All of this indicates thatThe Final Reckoningwill be a more general, holistic ending to theMission: Impossiblefranchise, not just this particular story. It’s clearly a narrative that’s rooted in Ethan Hunt’s past, resolving plot threads that were left hanging decades ago, so it would seem unusual forMission: Impossibleto continue in any form after such a concrete ending. As much as I don’t want to see Tom Cruise and Christopher McQuarrie step back from this brilliant series,it definitely feels like the right time.
It’ll Only Get Harder For Mission: Impossible To Beat Tom Cruise’s Stunts
There’s Only So Much Action This Franchise Can Take
Another key aspect that’s earning praise in the early reactions toThe Final Reckoningis the stunts, which are getting progressively bolder and more dangerous with each passing sequel.Dead Reckoningincluded moments like the iconic motorcycle jump and the final-act runaway train, but critics are saying thatThe Final Reckoninggets even more ambitious with its authentic stunt work. As impressive as this sounds, it’s not even that surprising; the stunts have always been the talking point of this franchise, so it’s no shock that Cruise and McQuarrie have something special up their sleeves for the final movie.
Mission: Impossible - The Final Reckoningwill be released on May 21.
IfMission: Impossiblecontinued afterThe Final Reckoning,there would be way too much pressure to make the stunts bigger and better, which doesn’t seem possible judging byThe Final Reckoning’s reactions. While I don’t doubt Cruise and McQuarrie’s ability to push the boundaries of action filmmaking, it would ultimately reach a point where the films become too concerned with their stunts that the narrative is left behind, which is a surefire sign of a franchise losing its touch.
The reasonMission: Impossible’s stunts are so greatis because they always serve a purpose in the story: the Burj Khalifa sequence inGhost Protocolhelps build tension for the nuclear code exchange, the motorcycle chase inRogue Nationcomplicates the dynamic between Ethan and Ilsa, etc. They’re never gratuitous, butifMission: Impossiblecontinued past its expiration date, the series would run that risk. Then there’s also the chance thatMission: Impossiblecould get repetitive and underwhelming, which isn’t something Cruise wants for this series.
I’ve Accepted That Mission: Impossible Has Already Peaked
Nothing Will Be Able To Top Rogue Nation And Fallout
Every franchise reaches a point where its best entries are in the past, and it seems likeMission: Impossiblehas finally gotten there.Falloutis widely regarded as thebestMission: Impossiblemovie, while most audiences would agree thatRogue NationandGhost Protocolfollow closely behind. While there are definite strengths toDead Reckoning,this sequel marked a slight drop in qualitythat took audiences by surprise, and it seems likeThe Final Reckoningis going to be the same. Very few reactions call it “bad” outright, but there aren’t many saying it outshinesFallouteither. In fact, the responses are somewhat divisive.
However, this doesn’t have to be a bad thing. We’ve moved past the apparent peak ofMission: Impossible, and these final two movies serve as a fitting conclusion that may not be as objectively impressive, but is equally rewarding for long-time fans who’ve followed the franchise from the beginning.The Final Reckoningmay be messier and less streamlined than movies likeFallout, but it serves a very different purpose - as long as it actuallyisthe final movie.
Will The Final Reckoning Really Be The Last Mission: Impossible Movie?
Can This Franchise Actually End After 30 Years?
Ultimately, it’s impossible to say whether or notMission: Impossiblewill return in some form in the future. Both Cruise and McQuarrie, the undeniable figureheads of this action franchise, have claimed thatThe Final Reckoningis going to be the end, but it’s no secret thatIPs don’t stay dead for long in Hollywood. Whether that’s an immediate spin-off or some kind of legacy sequel further down the road, there’s every possibility that audiences haven’t seen the last of the IMF.
If audiences come out in droves forThe Final Reckoning, breaking these commercial records and making the sequel a financial success, it’s much more likely thatMission: Impossiblewill stay alive.
The Final Reckoningreportedly needs to succeed at the box officeby a significant margin to break even, so it’s most likely that a decision on the franchise’s future won’t be made until the box office report has been finalized. If audiences come out in droves forThe Final Reckoning, breaking these commercial records and making the sequel a financial success,it’s much more likely thatMission: Impossiblewill stay alive. And it’s no secret that marketing something as the “final” entry usually offers a boost to the box office, so there’s every possibility this installment will come out on top.
